Vote to close St. John's school irks some

Parents and students are upset with an Eastern School District decision to close a central St. John's school in June.

The school district decided to close I.J. Samson Junior High School after a secret-ballot vote by trustees Wednesday evening.

In September, former I.J. Samson students will go to either Beaconsfield Junior High or Booth Memorial High schools.

School council chair Janet O'Keefe said she believes that despite a consultation process parents' concerns were ignored.

"I honestly, myself, believe that the decision was a directive from a higher source … it's coming from the [provincial] government. There was a directive for the board to close I.J. Samson building for June and figure out what you're going to do with the children best route you can," she said.

Student Deidre Careen also disagrees with the decision.

"Being there is like a second home and we just like the teachers and we're so close with everyone there. We're just a like a whole family," she said.

Bishops College and Booth Memorial are also scheduled to close once a new high school in the city's west end opens.

At a district meeting in March, trustees voted to close Holy Cross and Macpherson Elementary schools.

Trustees also decided that Holy Heart of Mary High School will be renovated.

Holy Cross Junior High will stay open after a motion to close the school was defeated.

The Eastern School District changes are based on recommendations that follow from an independent engineering report on restructuring schools in the St. John's area.